The past few weeks have been FULL for 147 Million Orphans. We had our VERY FIRST FUNDRAISER! After visiting Megan in Haiti last spring we realized that she needs a medical facility. The closest one is an hour away. She has 600 children in her school and feeds 700 a day..imagine all of the coughs, runny noses, HIV/AIDS, and not to mention women having babies!! SOOO, we came home and our wheels started turning! She had her builder draw up plans and told us it was going to cost $250,000! (eeeeek!!!) There will be a pharmacy on the top floor, and dental and medical on the bottom. It will be "hub" for people to come and get tested for HIV/AIDS, and if the are positive, she will send them to get meds!! I AM SO EXCITED!!! Needless to say, we started working FERVENTLY on how to raise the funds. ( no grass growing under our feet!)
In the middle of our preparations, we received the call that Jan ( my last post) had been taken to the hospital with stroke symptoms. The next day, Michelle, Gwen, and I went to the hospital to visit her and she shared that she had been diagnosed with a brain tumor. Now, let me just back up and say that we are the "four amigos." we do everything together. We talk all day long, every day, making 147 ROLL. In my last post I sent you to read Anna Bliss's perspective. Because honestly, I was SO numb from hearing the news that I didn't know what to say. The biopsy showed that it is cancerous. She went back into surgery on Wednesday and there were able to remove 90% of the tumor. It is in her speech/memory section of her brain, so they didn't want to go too deep for fear of causing damage. We were told that she probably wouldn't speak for awhile and she might have to learn sign language. (the words would be in her head, but she wouldn't be able to get them out.) Miraculously, she woke from surgery talking like normal!!
Over the past few weeks, God has shown himself in a MIGHTY way. Our fundraiser went off without a hitch! Megan was in town and shared her heart. Jan was able to come!! we raised $100,000!! The Holy Spirit was so heavy in the room. My heart felt as though it was going to explode.
Gwen and I traveled to Knoxville to speak to a 3,000 member church. It was AWESOME. The heartbeat of the people there was all about giving and serving others. Our hearts were filled with hope that more churches will see the heart of Jesus as we left town.
We had our 147 Christmas sale. (shop with purpose) We spent the day listening to Christmas music and filling bags of gifts for people to give away. And the icing on the cake was that Jan was able to be there with us!
God has given her such strength the past few weeks. She has more JOY and is sharing her heart and HIS purpose for her life and others. IT HAS BEEN AMAZING to watch her share HIS story of her life that HE is writing each and every day.
This week I was thinking back of the past few weeks and realized that HE is writing a story in my life each and every day also. My days aren't filled with doctors appointments or scheduling surgery, but they are filled with living out strength, patience, perseverance, and grace. HE is in the small things too. He is in the everyday, all day long and is writing a story with our lives. Why does it take a brain tumor to make us realize that we ought to live each day with intention? Going through the motions of baths, laundry, meals, school distract us. While those things HAVE to happen so that our homes do not collapse, there is a bigger picture here. OUR LIVES are a colorful, beautiful picture that God is creating and we do not even realize it. What do I want my picture to look like? I get to draw/paint it, I have the opportunity to choose what I want it to be filled with....hhhmmmm...clutter or INTENTIONAL things?

This is the land where we are building the medical facility

Jan loving on the children in Haiti

our sweet friend Katy Southern (far right) went with us to take pics of our time in Haiti

the four amigos

The past few weeks have given me perspective. One day when I stand before the Lord, I want my life painting to be FULL of colors, pictures, and LOVE.

This week has been a week of falling on my face before the Lord, crying out "if you have EVER been the great physician Lord, HEAL my sweet sister!" Many of you might remember my post "Never underestimate your walk..". Anna Bliss (angel on earth) was serving in Uganda alongside Katie. Anna Bliss's mom (Jan) works for 147 Million Orphans. Three years ago, she called us out of the clear blue and told us that God told her to call us and see how she could serve. Her children are older, she had extra time and wanted to serve in a mighty way. SOOOO, Gwen and I put her to work! She is SOLD out for Jesus like none other, and speaks BOLDLY about His sovereignty. She has done every job to be done at 147 without complaining. We have all been SO busy planning for our fundraiser the past few weeks. This last week, we received some devastating news. In Anna Bliss's words....click here: LOVE WITH ABANDON.

Hello blog world! it's been too long..i am going to try and do better. the truth is, there hasn't been much to say. Day to day gets hectic and the last thing i want to do is open my computer once i get everyone in the bed at night. I'll admit, I am the worst blogger EVER!

I went to the SHOW HOPE fundraiser last night and cried most of the night. Frances Chan spoke, and BROUGHT IT. They had the cutest little boy from China named YOYO come on stage and sing AMAZING GRACE. I closed my eyes and felt as though I was at heavens gates.

Finally, the Wright family came on stage. Several years ago, Rebekah Wright emailed me and told me that she and her husband were feeling called to adopt. Their hearts were being tugged towards domestic. I walked alongside her through their process, and watched them bring home precious little baby Caleb. We all go to the same school, so I have been able to watch Caleb go from a newborn to a lively toddler. This year, they ventured to China and brought home Isaac. His story isn't as "cute and cuddly" as bringing home a newborn. He was at Maria's big House of Hope. Issac can't walk, when not in his wheelchair, he pulls himself around by his upper body. He has a HUGE smile pasted on his face each and every day as she is bringing him into school. Rebekah asked the audience "if fear and money were not an issue, would you adopt?" Tears started streaming down my cheeks, as I thought about the paralyzing fear that consumed me when the doctor told me that Josie had TB and HIV. It started ringing in my ears.."fear and money, fear and money, fear and money."

Genesis 15:1[The LORD’s Covenant With Abram] After this, the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision: “Donot beafraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward. ”Genesis 46:3“I am God, the God of your father,” he said. “Donotbeafraid to go down to Egypt, for I will make you into a great nation there.Deuteronomy 3:22Donotbeafraid of them; the LORD your God himself will fight for you.”Deuteronomy 31:6Be strong and courageous. Donotbeafraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”There are MANY verses telling us not to fear...He will provide. As Steven Curtis Chapman led us in singing. I stood there with my eyes closed praying that HE would remove all fear in His body of Christ. Think of what we could accomplish with no fear in our lives. Adoption aside, think of everything else that we could do for the glory of Christ if we had absolutely NO FEAR! No fear = FAITHIf we just had FAITH without FEAR, think of what we could do for the kingdom of Christ. Matthew 6:30If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of littlefaith?Matthew 8:26He replied, “You of littlefaith, why are you so afraid?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm.Matthew 17:20He replied, “Because you have so littlefaith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”I have been anxious about the amount of money that 147 Million Orphans is trying to raise for the medical clinic in Haiti. $200,000. is a LOT of money. I am turning it over to HIM, RIGHT NOW. He WILL provide, for he loves those kiddos more than I do!

Fear completely paralyzes our FAITH.

This is the site for our clinic......I WILL NOT BE PARALYZED! Let's do this!!

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About Me

suzanne

I am a lover of Jesus. I have the most fabulous husband that anyone woman could ask for. The Lord has blessed us with 7 beautiful children. I started this blog so that friends and family could follow our trip to Uganda to visit Katie Davis. I have decided to keep blogging to help bring orphan awareness to the world around me.